Improvement in fire-shields



UNTTTT: STATES PATENT Ormea WILLIAM T. VOSE, OF NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-SHIELDS.

Specilcationforming part of Letters Patent N o. 186,444, dated January 23, 1877; application filed January 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern i Be it known lthat I, WILLIAM T. Vosn, of `Newtonville, in the county of Middlesex and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Fire-Shield; and l do hereby de-V clare the following to bea full, clear, and ex-I act description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figures l and 2 are front elevations, repre-V The object of this invention is to provide for the public an ecient, ready, and convenient protection from the heat radiated from burning buildingsyto which end the invention consists, first, in a Iire-screen composed `of two flexible sheets or blankets properly connected together, so as to inclose a space or spaces between them, and provided with, or to be used in connection with, means for supporting and adjusting them, and for saturating one or more of them, and filling or partially filling with waterthe inclosed 4space or spaces between them, for the purpose of intercepting radiant heat in conagrations; secondly, in constructing one of the blankets or sheets of some flexible water-proof material, (which at the same time may or may not also be iire-proof,) for the purpose of more efectually retaining the water within the screen, and also of preventing the hot water dropping from the screen from injuring the buildings to be protected, and from annoying the firemen or their assistants; thirdly, in dividing the space within the screen into two or more compartments, each provided with its water supply and outlet; and, fourthly, in arranging and constructing said compartments so i that the water-currents within the screen wilt be caused to travel in zigzag direction from the upper to the lower edge of the screen.

In the drawings, A represents theV watersupply pipe, which may be constructed of any suitable material, flexible, inilexible,or jointed and a a a represent taps or outlets, from which the water is delivered in thin sheets, or in jets or spray, into the interior of the screen, or upon the exterior of that side of the screen which is composed of porous or absorbent material, through which it can percolate into the interior. `B represents the double blanket, suspended from, or in any suitable manner connected to, the pipe A, and provided with supporting cords or wires c c, adjusting cords or wires ciV ci, and a water-outlet, c. The side b of the blanket, which is to come next to the object to be protected from the heat, I preferably construct of water-proof material, such as india-rubber or gutta-percha cloth, oil-cloth, or other equivalent flexible water-proof material 5 and it will answer the purpose if, at the same time, this part of' the fabric be also fireproof, although this is not essential. The side b' of the blanket, which is to be directly exposed to the radiant heat, I construct of some tlexible material, but, preferably, not waterproof, it being better that this side should al-` low the water to percolate through it outward from the inside, or inward from the outside, so that the outer surface may be always wet, and yet the water may not shed 0E too freely. The porosity of this material will also allow the steam which forms inside of the screen to escape freely, thereby preventing any undue distention of the apparatus when exposed to a great heat.

.To keep the iow of water uniform throughout the screen it may be, by stitching or otherwise, divided into'several vertical compartments, as shown at m m m, Fig..1, each being supplied with water independently of the rest; or the compartments 4 may be arranged horizontally one under another, as shown at n a, Fig. 2, the water passing back and forth around the ends oi' the partitions, between them, until it reaches the outlet c and is discharged.

The front side b of the screen should be constructed of some material, such as woolen cloth, felt, Svc., which is as little liable to injury from heat as possible, although any kind of textile, felted, or other fabric will answer theV purpose approximately; but whatever material be used it is well to render it as nearly lire-proof as possible without unduly adding to its weight, rendering it liable to crack, or detracting from 'its flexibility.

To prevent injury to the pipe A, or to the upper edge of the blanket, from heat, the upper side of the pipe may be punctured, so as to allow a ysmall quantity of water to escape from it, suteient to keep it and the upper Water-proof, and offers but little resistance to the movement of the water.

The screen may be used by filling it with water and raising'it to its position between the re and the property to be protected, orV the screen may be first placed inposition, and then the water may be continuously forced into it under any degree of pressure that may be judged best, according to the degree of heat to befintercepted. The screen may also vbe used effectively to smother a re by throw' ing it over the re, with the porous saturated side next to the fire.

1.. The lire-screen A B, having the waterpipe combined with the eXible double blanket, and with suitable devices for supporting and adjusting it, substantially as described.

2. A exible-re screen, consisting of two blankets, the rear one practically water-proof and the .front one porous, combined with a water-supply, A., and with suitable devices for supporting and adjusting, substantially as described.

3. The flexible fire-screen A B, the body of which is composed of two blankets attached together at or near their edges, and having the interior chamber between them divided into several compartments, communicating or not communicating, substantially as described WILLIAM T. VOSE. Witnesses D. LANGEY, E. S. FARNs'WoRTH. 

